The Borno State Livestock Management Agency (BOLMA), in collaboration with Dar Al Halal, an agribusiness company is to harness and develop the livestock sector to boost employment, internally generated revenues (IGR) and exports.

According to the agency, Borno has a population of approximately 10 million cattle, sheep and goats, a population necessary to make the collaboration work.

Unveiling the livestock development partnership in Maiduguri, the Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur, who doubles as the Supervising Commissioner of Livestock and Fisheries Development, said: “Today’s collaboration with Dar Al Halal agribusiness firm, state’s livestock Agency, and the South Africa representative of the Food Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the UN, are to build an effective platform for the Nigerian businessmen to fully develop the livestock sector.”

Kadafur added that the adoption of a Halal ecosystem in the country would transform the livestock sector by what he described as aligning with global economic trends and the Federal Government’s diversification initiatives.

Director General of BOLMA, Dr. Bukar Ali Usman also reiterated the unwavering commitment of Governor Babagana Zulum to the transformation of the livestock industry to tackle unemployment and food insecurity.

After inspecting the Mafa Ruga Settlement Centre along Maiduguri-Dikwa road, the Executive Director of Al Halal Business Group, Dr. Abdulmutallib Dikko, commended Zulum for establishing a world-class Ruga centre with modern facilities for both pastoralists and their numerous livestock.

“Among the states we have visited in the country, none has the livestock potentials and the readiness we’ve seen today in Borno,” stating that the Ruga facilities at the settlement centre will facilitate the implementation of the collaboration on livestock development in the state to boost food security and people’s livelihoods in Gubio, Askira/Uba, and Mafa councils of the state.

Beyond the establishment of three Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA); the Executive Director added that the partnership would enhance the massive production of beef, milk, and the hides and skin in boosting the country’s leather industry for foreign exchange.